title: The role of water in healthcare-associated infections.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim is to discuss the epidemiology of infections that arise from contaminated water in healthcare settings, including Legionnaires' disease, other Gram-negative pathogens, nontuberculous mycobacteria, and fungi.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Legionella can colonize a hospital water system and infect patients despite use of preventive disinfectants. Evidence-based measures are available for secondary prevention. Vulnerable patients can develop healthcare-associated infections with waterborne organisms that are transmitted by colonization of plumbing systems, including sinks and their fixtures. Room humidifiers and decorative fountains have been implicated in serious outbreaks, and pose unwarranted risks in healthcare settings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Design of hospital plumbing must be purposeful and thoughtful to avoid the features that foster growth and dissemination of Legionella and other pathogens. Exposure of patients who have central venous catheters and other invasive devices to tap water poses a risk for infection with waterborne pathogens. Healthcare facilities must conduct aggressive clinical surveillance for Legionnaires' disease and other waterborne infections in order to detect and remediate an outbreak promptly. Hand hygiene is the most important measure to prevent transmission of other Gram-negative waterborne pathogens in the healthcare setting.
authors.affiliation: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Brooke K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Decker
authors.forename: Tara N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Palmore
mesh_terms: D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000382:microbiology*; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007877:Legionnaires' Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009181:Mycoses / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014881:Water Supply / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water